Popkorn and Moonshine

Popkorn and Moonshine

BY DANNY HENDERSON

Self-publishing website – www.lulu.com

Copyright © 2015 by Danny Wayne Henderson

Published by Danny Wayne Henderson in association with

LULU Press

Popkorn and Moonshine

Self-Published

danbon02@wk.net

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, stored in a database and

or published in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

In memory of my sister-in law Betty,

whose genuine heartfelt enthusiasm

encouraged me to finish this

book when I felt like giving up.

To my niece Missy, Betty’s daughter,

whose equal enthusiasm supported

me before and after Betty passed away.

CONTENTS

Chapter Page

Contents5

Acknowledgements6

Introduction9

CHAPTER 1Mama Died11

CHAPTER 2A Boy Named Popkorn14

CHAPTER 3Train Whistles16

CHAPTER 4War hero17

CHAPTER 5Daddy’s Wrath21

CHAPTER 6Rattlesnake!25

CHAPTER 7Tornado27

CHAPTER 8Picking Blackberries30

CHAPTER 9Moonshine35

CHAPTER 10Back in Business38

CHAPTER 11Pretty Little Red Haired Girl41

CHAPTER 12Left Standing in the Road44

CHAPTER 13Church Bench45

CHAPTER 14Suspicious Minds47

CHAPTER 15No Bed of Roses50

CHAPTER 16Change of Plans52

CHAPTER 17Fulfilling the Promise58

CHAPTER 18Little Jar of Dirt65

CHAPTER 19You Are My Sunshine65

CHAPTER 20Angel Dog70

CHAPTER 21Rabbit Hunting73

CHAPTER 22Banty Chickens75

CHAPTER 23Cat Fishing79

CHAPTER 24Heartbreak79

CHAPTER 25A New Beginning86

CHAPTER 26Run or Stand88

CHAPTER 27Till We Meet Again93

CHAPTER 28Daddy’s Home96

CHAPTER 29Bigger and Better99

CHAPTER 30Little Angels99

CHAPTER 31Hard Luck Holler No More104

CHAPTER 32Moving On Up106

CHAPTER 33Cougar!108

CHAPTER 34Memories from the Past112

CHAPTER 35Danger in The bushes116

CHAPTER 36Revenuers!118

CHAPTER 37A New Family Business124

CHAPTER 38Out with the Old126

CHAPTER 39A Phone Call from Heaven128

CHAPTER 40Carpe Diem Day!135

CHAPTER 41The Painting138

CHAPTER 42Going Home144

Epilog146

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The idea for writing this book came about one morning after I finished driving my morning bus route at Carlisle County high school. Most of the bus drivers at our school would congregate in the bus garage, after we had finished delivering our students, to drink coffee and catch up on the day’s activities. One particular driver, Evelyn West, and I began a conversation about writing a book. Together we started suggesting ideas for the characters and even the name of the book. Evelyn was the one who came up with the idea for the title. She suggested the name to be, Popkorn and Moonshine. We both made up names for the characters and formed ideas for situations they would find themselves in.

The name Billy Wayne Kolter seemed to pop into my head. Then we started adding events and places. We laughed about the possibility of actually publishing a book as we left to do our daily routines between driving the morning and afternoon bus routes. I went home and began to work on my computer and as I did, the idea of the book kept popping into my head. I couldn’t concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing because of the ideas swirling around. I opened a Word document page and typed the heading Popkorn and Moonshine. I misspelled the word popcorn on purpose for some unknown reason.

The concept emerged of a little boy who had been abandoned in the hills of eastern Kentucky by his mother at an early age. I started writing this book from the perspective of the main character, Billy Wayne Kolter, and the struggles he had to overcome to survive. I added several more potential situations as they came to me. I then printed out what I had done.

Later that afternoon, I took the pages to the bus garage and gave them to Evelyn to see what she thought. She was very receptive to the new ideas and added a few of her own.

As the days went by we would get together to compare notes. The character of Billy Wayne Kolter and the situations he was thrown into became like several of the events that happened to me during my lifetime. I believe most of the books people write come from things that have similarities to people and events in their lives. Evelyn encouraged me to keep writing as she continued to give me suggestions.

Many stories in this book are based on actual events that took place in my life. The character of Billy Wayne seemed to come to life with each chapter. Sometimes, as I’d be writing, I would stop and look at what I had written. I would set back and think to myself, Where did this come from, and who is writing this. It was as if someone else was doing the writing. Occasionally, this caused me a bit of anguish. It became an emotional roller coaster as I remembered some of the good and bad that happened in my life.

I once read a saying, No emotion in the writer, no emotion in the reader. My emotions have been poured into the pages of this book, and hopefully, those emotions will translate to you the reader.

One example I can give you is while writing I discovered Billy Wayne posing a question to a character that I myself wished I had asked of a certain individual before they died. I had to stop and push away from the computer when I realized what I had written.

Again I asked myself, Who wrote this?

I stood up, left my computer room, and went into the living room to talk to my wife Bonnie about what had just happened. I told her the writing process was becoming very emotional to me and that I didn’t know if I could do it anymore. I told her the question seemed to appear out of nowhere on the computer screen.

So for the next two weeks I didn’t attempt to write anything. After supper one evening I had a long conversation on the phone with one of my sisters that lived in another state. She had been much closer than I to this certain individual. I told her about the book I was writing and about the question that was sitting on the last page of my unfinished book.

After a long pause she said, Danny, I can give you the answer to that question you’re seeking. She explained to me things that happened that I knew nothing about. What she told me answered the question perfectly. When I got off the phone with her I realized maybe the reason I had stopped writing two weeks ago was because I was supposed to wait to get the answer to this burning question I had searched 57 years for. I went to the computer and finished the story. I do believe things happen for a reason, and sometimes we just have to be patient to get the answers to our questions.

I have encouraged many people to put into writing their life story, if for no other reason than for their children and grandchildren to read. I believe that everyone’s life is like a book. Each book has a title, beginning, and an end. Each day we live is a page in that book and every so often the book is separated by chapters. The first chapter in my Life Book started the day I was born. The second chapter was around ten years old. The third began when I married my wife Bonnie and started raising children. Fourth, when those children grew up, married, and moved away. Fifth, when I had grandchildren. I believe now that I have retired, I’m on my last chapter. I feel sad sometimes when I think of this but I know, like I said earlier, every book has a beginning and an end. We all have to accept this and move on.

It seems that everyone I’ve talked to said their story wouldn’t be interesting to anyone else. I tell them every time that they’re wrong because it’s interesting to me and probably a lot of other people too. I have a book in my library that is titled, IF YOU CAN TALK, YOU CAN WRITE. Joel Saltzman wrote this book and said the inspiration for it came at a party that he attended. He has written many books and also gives seminars on how to write.

A woman wouldn’t leave him alone at a party he was attending once and she kept asking him to tell her how she could write a book. Out of frustration he shouted, If you can talk, you can write. Now leave me alone. He walked away and suddenly realized he had the next title to his next book.

This book has taken three years to write and many times I’ve almost given up. But someone or something has always seemed to urge me on. Two particular people that I have to mention are Betty Clark and her daughter Missy Henson. Betty is my wife Bonnie’s sister and Missy is Betty’s daughter. Betty and Missy would ask me how the book was coming along every time I saw them and genuinely seemed very excited about reading it when I got it finished.

Sadly, Betty died almost two years ago. She would never get to read it here on earth. My hope and prayer is she will be able to read it in heaven. I’ll give Missy the first two copies printed, one to honor Betty and one for Missy to thank her for her undying encouragement.

My wife Bonnie has given me support every step of the way on this endeavor as well as practically every step I’ve taken for the last forty-three years of our marriage. I can never repay her for all the love and encouragement she has given me.

Also, I can never thank Eric Morgan and Debra Cates enough for their help and direction in putting this book together.

Eric helped me get my first book printed and was the first one I turned to when I needed guidance. His suggestions on changes and revisions were spot on every time. He has published books also, so his guidance in this endeavor was a tremendous help in putting on the finishing touches. He is an incredible talented man and I will be forever in his debt!

Debra has encouraged me from day one on this project. Our conversations over the years have been very deep and sometimes personal, I think for her as well as myself. She is a very passionate life loving extraordinary person. I am honored to call her friend!

So my wish for anyone who reads this book is that as you read, please try to remember that I am only a simple man with very little education and I hope you can overlook any mistakes and errors, and that you get some small enjoyment from what I have done here on these next pages.

Sincerely Yours,

Danny Wayne Henderson

INTRODUCTION

This story is about a fictional young boy who grew up in far eastern Kentucky, about fifty miles east of Lexington. He was born on Jan. 2nd, 1953. His name is Billy Wayne Kolter.

From his earliest years, he lived as hard a life as anyone who ever roamed the beautiful hills of Apalachicola. There are numerous tales of hardship up and down this mountain range and his story is just one of many.

As a person grows from early childhood to adulthood, there are trials and tribulations that shape each person’s life. Every life can be an interesting book in itself. Everyone faces obstacles that they have to overcome throughout their life. We all get knocked down several times, so to speak. Occasionally the blow is so severe that when we struggle to get back up, some of us make it, some of us don’t. The secret that we have to learn is to get back up one more time than we get knocked down. It seems to me sometimes, just when we are ready to give up, an angel in some form or other appears to help us struggle on.

Billy Wayne faced many obstacles in his life. He struggled to cope and understand the trials and tribulations that were thrown his way. He dealt with each with courage and bravery, even as a small child. As he overcame each new problem, it made him stronger. Like when you get a cut on your hand or arm, when it heals it leaves a scar that is twice as tough as before. Each new scar we obtain becomes a memory of some obstacle we overcame, which gives us a sense of pride and confidence.

This man received many mental as well as physical scars in his lifetime. But with the help of a lonely widow woman, early in his life, and later friends that were like angels that just happened to come into his world at the right time, he lived a life of no regret. He loved deeply and was loved back just as much.

He went from being a very bitter and angry young man, to understanding the way of the mountains and how to accept that all things seem to be for a reason, even when at first he couldn't see it. He finally learned that hate and anger is good for nothing. That to keep it inside eats you up and destroys a person eventually. Some people live long lives and never understand this principle. Those people eventually die miserably. They never get to enjoy the beautiful sunrises and sunsets that life paints for them. This man enjoyed many moments like these. He learned to Carpe Diem (Seize the day) every day.

The little things that we do every day, good and bad, are remembered by people that we never knew we affected in any way. Small things we do or say sometimes makes a big difference in other people’s lives. One kind word said to a small child that lives in a hostile environment and in poverty, might be the only kind word he hears all day. This man understood this, as well as that he believed in justice for those that were oppressed.

His life exemplified the type of people that lived and died, doing the best they could, with what they were given.

This is the story of Billy Wayne (Popkorn) Kolter.

Some cultures once believed that yellow butterflies represented re-birth, and that they were the souls of children who died young. Many also believed them to be the soul of mothers who died during childbirth.

Some Irish lore says that yellow butterflies are indicators of departed souls who are resting peacefully in the afterlife.

Yellow butterflies represent new life in many cultures

A yellow or gold butterfly also symbolizes a ‘new life', a transformation, or a re-birth.

Many ancient civilizations believed that butterflies were symbols of the human soul. In some cultures, it was believed that a new human soul was born each time an adult butterfly emerged from its cocoon; in other cultures, butterflies were also considered to be the souls of those who had passed away. Because of this belief that the human soul took the form of a butterfly, they were often viewed with great respect.

CHAPTER 1

MAMA DIED

My name is Billy Wayne Kolter. I remember the day my mama left and never came back! It was the day of my fifth birthday, Saturday, January 2nd, 1958.

Mama and I were visiting at Sara Rose Posgrove’s shack, a widow woman that my mother was good friends with. Sara had baked me a small cake, and put five candles on it. After they sang Happy Birthday I blew out the candles and Sara cut the cake. Eating cake was a real treat for me, one I very seldom got to enjoy. We were very poor and cake was not a necessity in our home.

Just past midday my mama, Mable Ruth Kolter, told Sara that she had something she needed to take care of in town. Sara had often kept me during the day while mama worked so I was already comfortable staying with her. Mama always came and got me before dark. I had never spent one night without her.

I remember back on that day, there seemed to be uneasiness in my mother’s eyes, as she gave me an extra firm hug and kiss. I remember watching her walk away until she disappeared over the hill towards town. That moment is forever burned into my memory. It was then that I had a sense of overwhelming foreboding and fear. This was the first time I’d ever felt this sensation. It wouldn’t be the last time, as this feeling gradually increased as the day wore on.

The closer it got to nightfall the worse my fear became. Sara tried to console and assure me that mama would be back to get me, but when I glanced at her face I could see and feel the worry in her eyes. She picked me up in her lap and rocked me in her old wooden rocking chair. She had rocked me to sleep many times babysitting me in the past. I felt warm and secure in her lap and soon fell asleep.

When I woke the next morning the sun was shining in through the east window. The golden sunbeam streaming through the window was illuminating the shimmering dust particles floating around in the small room. I soon discovered that I was lying on a pallet on the floor under several blankets and quilts.

It took me a few moments to fully wake. I smelled the bacon that Sara was cooking on the old wood stove as I raised my head and looked all around the room. My mama was nowhere in sight! My heart jumped into my throat and I felt the panic of last night return.

I turned to look at Sara and she was